For Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the more the merrier.
Despite the entry of Rep. Wesley Hunt into Texas’ ferocious GOP Senate primary, a new poll from a pro-Cornyn super PAC obtained by POLITICO shows the four-term incumbent Republican in the lead.
The poll was conducted by Texans for a Conservative Majority in the days immediately prior to Hunt announcing that he would turn the Senate between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton into a three-way contest.
It shows Cornyn with the support of 33 percent of Texas Republican primary voters, followed by Paxton at 28 percent and Hunt at 21 percent. Still undecided are 18 percent of primary voters.
Hunt’s entry into the race cannibalizes Paxton’s support, according to the poll. When Hunt voters are forced to choose between the two, 48 percent would be willing to back the Texas attorney general, while 24 percent would opt to support Cornyn.
Public polling has also shown a tight three-way race. A recent poll from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University has shown Paxton and Cornyn virtually tied with a third of the vote each, with Hunt trailing at 22 percent.
A simple plurality though isn’t good enough for Cornyn. Texas has a primary runoff system, which would mean a second round of voting in late May 2026 if no candidate earns an outright majority in the March 3 primary.
Cornyn has steadily improved his standing in public and private polls in recent months on the basis of a major television advertising effort on his behalf. A private poll in May had Cornyn down nearly 20 points in a head-to-head matchup against Paxton but he has steadily closed the gap since.
The new poll shows Paxton’s job approval among Republicans falling as the controversial attorney general faces attacks over a host of ethics issues which culminated in a failed 2023 impeachment attempt against him.
The pro-Cornyn poll was conducted by Deep Root Analytics from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28 among 1,142 Texas Republicans likely to vote in the primary.
